Zombie Driver Immortal Edition

Who ever said killing zombies is hard work? Crowbars, guns, light traps might do the trick? None of this is necessary if you have a good car and a good driver. 

Developed by Exor Studios back in 2009 for Android devices, the HD version was subsequently released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows operating systems, and the obscure OUYA (this cube-shaped micro-console funded via Kickstarter is occasionally mentioned again). Finally, the Ultimate Edition was re-released on Xbox One, improving gameplay and adding some new “skins” for the included vehicles.

But after 10 years since its debut, will this title on Nintendo's hybrid console manage to surprise? Will it manage to re-transmit the initial concept of a portable game on a smartphone by merging the power of a console?

Immortal, for now:

The name doesn't falter, even though we're used to seeing “remastered,” “definitive edition,” “HD version,” etc. (it almost seems like we're rehashing the nomenclature craze of the Street Fighter series). This version wants to celebrate its 10th anniversary by bringing a more optimized version than ever of this title, which doesn't seem to age. But what can we expect from this version compared to others? Surely the convenience of being able to play it in its splendor while comfortably seated without a TV, that the game is fluid, and, why not, having hordes of zombies jumping from everywhere.

Indeed, this version does exactly that, thanks mainly to the convenience of the Nintendo Switch. The controls are well optimized, and loading times are practically non-existent. You could say that Zombie Driver is the definitive version, but is all that glitters gold?

Story

A strange chemical contamination has invaded the city. The dead begin to walk, and every bite will turn a living being into one of them. So far, nothing extraordinary. But a young taxi driver, with a great skill for navigating traffic, manages to survive the ongoing chaos. His talents are immediately recognized by the resistance, where he is quickly recruited by their commander, who will later assign tasks within the city. Ready to “smash” anything blocking our path, we will try to find a way out of this ongoing epidemic and save as many survivors as possible before the city is completely destroyed.

Gameplay and content:

The gameplay is very simple, this is also due to its origins on mobile, where you will have to travel on board our car facing hordes of zombies with the help of NOS, machine guns, flamethrowers, rockets, and the powerful railgun, to complete a series of missions entrusted to us by the commando. Missions range from time-based ones, where you will have to transport materials or people from one point to another, to those of destroying and defending the main points where the undead “spawn.” Each mission, kill, race, or “special” item will provide money, which can be used to upgrade one of the 13 vehicles available or the weapons, which unlike the vehicles that each have their own stats, will be global in this case.

In addition to Story mode, Blood Race and Carnage modes are available from the main menu. In Blood Race, you'll face opponents in a “Carmageddon”-style event, trying to defeat them in a vehicular race. Carnage is a survival mode where you'll attempt to stay alive for as long as possible against various waves of zombies.

The Immortal Edition also includes all previously released DLCs, namely: Burning Garden of Slaughter, Tropical Race Rage, Apocalypse Pack, and Brutal Car Skins. These are primarily additional maps for the Slaughter and Bloody Race modes, plus some vehicle skins. All of this can be unlocked by achieving certain in-game objectives.

Conclusion:

Zombie Driver: Immortal Edition still manages to entertain its audience, especially for those who have never played this title before. Its gameplay might become boring after a while, and the lack of multiplayer (both online and offline), especially for the Bloody Races mode, leaves a slight bitter taste and a feeling of incompleteness for such a title. Playing this title in portable mode shows how well it was previously thought out for this purpose, but the question remains: will this title survive for a few more years?